His eye caught mention of a textile he didn’t think Tirglasians would have much to spare. “You do, of course, realise that our need for wool is nowhere near as voracious as linen.” He handed the page back in a similar manner. A warmer climate, coupled with the local supply made the need for importing wool almost unnecessary, but he’d been tasked with setting up a beginning trade line for every resource the Tirglasian crown was willing to part with.
Nora inclined her head. “I also ken that the wool our sheep produce can be spun into a finer quality yarn than your breeds. The way I understand it, Udynean sheep are bred more for meat.”
He arched a brow at her. He hadn’t expected such a reply. Just how much did she know of his homeland? “You would be correct in that assumption. Clearly, our people are more concerned with being fed than donning woollen garments.”
“Your northern lands are nae much different from ours.”
Considering some of those very lands bordered Tirglas, mostly separated by a line of mountains, he wasn’t surprised. However, he doubted their presence alone would tilt the scale of demand for imported wool. “I shall need to send another messenger pigeon to the border, but I rather doubt they will wish for me to agree on anything as generous as my previous offers.”
Nodding, she slid the topmost page aside. “There was some mention of medicinal aid? Something our doctors would be able to utilise?”
Darshan gnawed on a thumbnail. He had arrived with a list of various medicinal herbs and their uses, which was in the guest rooms with everything else. Not being a doctor, he hadn’t paid much attention to their names, let alone the usage of each one. “To be honest, I would much rather discuss those after visiting a cloister.”
The woman pursed her lips as if sucking something distasteful. “You dinnae think me mum would still allow you to travel with me brother?”
Probably not. If he was to be honest with himself, then it would most certainly be a definite no. “I made no stipulations that it had to be. But since you brought it up, one travelling party, and thus one escort, would be a far more efficient use of your guards.” The gods knew that there wasn’t much chance of being alone with Hamish whilst on the move, but he’d settle for getting the man away from the confines of the castle and out from under Queen Fiona’s poisonous gaze. Even if it was only for a little while.
Nora set down the quill with a sigh. “Dinnae hurt me brother. Please? I ken he looks fearsome, but he’s as gentle as a wee lamb.”
Darshan steepled his fingers on his stomach. Had he become that transparent so quickly after leaving the Crystal Court’s deadly intrigue? And how far could he trust Nora with the truth given her closeness to Queen Fiona? “Your highness, I have no intentions of doing any such thing.”
The subtle tightening of her lips spoke several volumes towards her disbelief in that statement. “I meant what I said; I ken what it’s like in Udynea. He’s nae a plaything. You hurt him and you’ll be answering to the whole clan.”
He had already surmised as much. Still… “I do not take kindly to threats.” Not that he’d had many levelled at him. Most of those with enough status to attend the Crystal Court also had enough wits about them to be aware that threatening the Mhanek’s son could only end badly. Sadly, that didn’t include his half-sisters, the title-grabbing locusts that they were.
“And I am nae the kind of woman to give them lightly.” Nora straightened in her chair. “But whilst me brother and I continue to share blood, I would be doing him a great disservice to let you walk all over him.”
Darshan hummed to himself, tapping a boot heel on the table. “I have changed my mind,” he murmured. “I have no need to consult the council. I want double the percentage on wool that we agreed upon with the coal.” He could no longer remember the exact figures, all thoughts of trade eclipsed by the rage of Queen Fiona’s ranting.
“D-double?” Nora sputtered. “That’s outrageous!”
“As were your mother’s words.” Not to mention the abuse she had heaped upon her own son. Hamish deserved far better than that.
“I ken you’re upset over what me mum said, but you cannae take it out on our economy.”
“Fine, I shall lower the tariff to a more agreeable range, on the stipulation that I get your brother. The younger one,” he clarified, knowing full well she would be aware he meant Hamish.
If he thought the woman had been sitting straight before, he was proven wrong now. Any more so and she would have to learn how to levitate. “This is Tirglas, we dinnae trade in people.”
He lowered his feet, allowing his chair to return to supporting him on all four legs. However carefully he maintained his balance on the two back legs, it simply wouldn’t do to fall now. “Those are my terms.” Even if Hamish didn’t wish to make their rather new arrangement a permanent one, having the man in Udynea would leave Hamish with a far wider range of opportunities. Not just in bed partners.
Nora snorted. “You’re going to be this bull-headed because of a few harsh words?”
Darshan slammed his fists onto the table. “Harsh words?” he whispered. “She insulted something that is an intrinsic part of me. Just as your traits make you.” The aroma of scorched wood tickled his nose. He lifted a hand to discover the wood grain directly beneath bore the distinct impression of his curled hand.
Nora’s faint intake of breath was enough to shake the cobwebs of shock from his mind.
He slowly lowered his hands, shaking them to cool off once he could be certain they were out of the woman’s immediate sight. Control it. Lighting a candle was
